Marriage Question

[Julianna]

I also found this in ask an apologist. Michelle Arnold confirms that the protestant no longer has to make a promise or sign a document. Only the catholic party does. This is how it was presented to me in my former parish. So I guess the form is valid. No need to worry there. Still don’t exactly no how to deal with the other issue.

The signing document thing is as old as the hills. My mother signed one in 1956. We were raised Catholic and we also went to her Baptist Church. We didn’t grow horns on our heads. My mom went with us to Mass, but dad never went to her Church. My siblings and I attended catechism class and about once a month we attended Sunday School at mom’s Church. Oddly enough, it was my Baptist mother that would call Fr. O’Connor and ask questions about our catechism classes and what she needed to do to prepare us for our first Confession and first Holy Communion. In 1966, the communion dresses were all big bows and frou’ frou’s…my mother “made” my dress. It was a plain white empire waist dress with 3/4 sleeves with lace. She made my veil which was a plain square of tulle with satin ribbon and seed pearls scattered around the ribbon. She attached a comb and I wore like a mantilla. She was questioned as to why my dress was “so plain”. My Baptist mother answered, “It’s a sacrament, not a fashion show. I want my daughter to know why she is receiving the sacrament…it’s not about the dress.”

My mother never converted…to my Baptist grandmother’s shagrin…however, she educated herself and kept her promise…not to the Church, not to my dad, but to God. To this day, I think she had a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith than my dad.

It wasn’t a big deal for us. We knew from the get-go that mom and dad were of different faiths. Everyone said their marriage was doomed. Dad died just 4 months shy of their 50th anniversary. So much for that theory. Oh and my mother practiced the “rhythm method” aka “Vatican Roulette”. She didn’t believe in chemical birth control…go figure.

 

[prolifewife]

The signing document thing is as old as the hills. My mother signed one in 1956. We were raised Catholic and we also went to her Baptist Church. We didn’t grow horns on our heads. My mom went with us to Mass, but dad never went to her Church. My siblings and I attended catechism class and about once a month we attended Sunday School at mom’s Church. Oddly enough, it was my Baptist mother that would call Fr. O’Connor and ask questions about our catechism classes and what she needed to do to prepare us for our first Confession and first Holy Communion. In 1966, the communion dresses were all big bows and frou’ frou’s…my mother “made” my dress. It was a plain white empire waist dress with 3/4 sleeves with lace. She made my veil which was a plain square of tulle with satin ribbon and seed pearls scattered around the ribbon. She attached a comb and I wore like a mantilla. She was questioned as to why my dress was “so plain”. My Baptist mother answered, “It’s a sacrament, not a fashion show. I want my daughter to know why she is receiving the sacrament…it’s not about the dress.”

My mother never converted…to my Baptist grandmother’s shagrin…however, she educated herself and kept her promise…not to the Church, not to my dad, but to God. To this day, I think she had a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith than my dad.

It wasn’t a big deal for us. We knew from the get-go that mom and dad were of different faiths. Everyone said their marriage was doomed. Dad died just 4 months shy of their 50th anniversary. So much for that theory. Oh and my mother practiced the “rhythm method” aka “Vatican Roulette”. She didn’t believe in chemical birth control…go figure.

Thank you for sharing this. It is very inspiring. Your mother had great faith!